Poverty and Witch Killing |
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Authors: | Edward Miguel |
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Institution: | University of California, Berkeley and NBER |
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Abstract: | This study uses rainfall variation to estimate the impact of income shocks on murder in rural Tanzania. Extreme rainfall (drought or flood) leads to a large increase in the murder of ?witches”—typically elderly women killed by relatives—but not other murders. The findings provide novel evidence on the role of income shocks in causing violent crime, and religious violence in particular. |
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